Dispatch No. 3 from Endless Ocean

It’s day three with Endless Ocean and we think it’s high time we stop our constant fawning over the game … at least for a day. So, here are some of the things we’re finding a little lacking:

– The Control: While the point-and-swim scheme is very intuitive, it’s not always the most precise. Trying to use the compass and the map to swim in a certain direction never seems to yield results and attempting to do an about face to check back on a small treasure is cumbersome. (The quick flip-around option is nice, but it’s still hard to focus back on something small you already passed.)

– The Camera: Taking photos is supposed to be one of the most rewarding experiences in Ocean, but so far it’s the one to draw the most expletive-laced tirades from this player. When using the camera, the box in which the pointer signals what direction to look at is restricted and difficult to guide, especially as your subjects swim tither and hither.

– The Creatures: Yes, there are many. Yes, they are impressive. However, it’s like someone dumped an ocean’s worth of Klonopin in the sea. The animals respond to your interaction, but only in the most docile way. I know this is a family title, but I don’t think it’s exactly responsible for teaching children that if you keep poking a shark, it’ll just belch glitter and keep swimming on its merry way. You should have to respect the larger, more irritable species, keep your distance and maybe even use some stealth. I’m not saying they need to make it all bloody and violent, but if you’re spotted by a great white, the screen could just go black for a second and you could wake up on the boat with Kat and she could be all like “Oh, good thing I got you out of there.” And then you dive again.

For something more positive, check out our earlier impressions here and here